Storage Tank System Research Articles

Application of PVT Coupled Solar Heat Pump System in the Renovation of Existing Campus Buildings

A photovoltaic thermal panel (PV/T) is an integrated module that harnesses both photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies to convert solar energy into electricity and heat, thereby enhancing overall energy efficiency. This paper aims to explore the suitability of PV/T solar heat pump systems across various climate zones and assess their potential for widespread application. By analyzing the operating principles of an indirect expansion PV/T solar heat pump system in conjunction with the climate characteristics of different regions, MATLAB R2019b/Simulink software was employed to evaluate the photoelectric performance of PV and PV/T systems in representative cities across five distinct climate zones in China during typical winter days. Key metrics, such as power generation, hot water storage tank temperature, indoor temperature, and system COP, were chosen to assess the heating performance of the PV/T solar heat pump system. The findings indicate that the winter ambient temperature significantly affects the photoelectric efficiency of both the PV and PV/T systems. While higher latitudes with lower ambient temperatures yield greater photoelectric efficiency, the southern regions exhibit higher power generation during winter. The winter heating effectiveness of the PV/T solar heat pump system is mainly influenced by indoor and water tank temperatures, with Harbin’s system performing the poorest and failing to meet heating demands, whereas Nanjing’s system shows the best results.

Enhanced temperature regulation in compound heating systems: Leveraging guided policy search and model predictive control

With the widespread application of solar-energy-air-source heat pump composite heating, optimizing the regulation of air temperature in heating zones, enhancing system thermal comfort, and reducing energy consumption have become crucial. To ensure residential comfort while minimizing HVAC system energy costs, a control method combining guided policy search (GPS) with model predictive control (MPC) is proposed for composite heating systems. This method replaces state estimation in MPC with policy search and substitutes the offline trajectory optimization used in guided policy search with MPC, thus integrating the strengths of both approaches. This strategy not only improves control precision but also reduces energy consumption and enhances system robustness. The GPS-MPC control algorithm was validated against reinforcement learning and MPC. A simulation model was developed and validated on a real physical platform. Simulations compared the control effects of on-off control and MPC on pump frequency, flow rate, stratified thermal storage tank temperature, component, and system energy consumption. The data results indicate that the GPS-MPC algorithm offers superior predictive accuracy, efficiency, and robustness in composite heating control systems compared to conventional methods. Under the GPS-MPC strategy, indoor temperature fluctuations, pump frequency response speed, and energy consumption were significantly improved, with temperature fluctuation limited to only 0.8 °C, and the system achieving energy savings of over 12 %.

Disinfection of drinking water for poultry

Relevance. The problem of biological safety of drinking water remains relevant in livestock farming. The quality of water depends on the primary composition of the microflora of the source; with further transportation, the water is additionally contaminated with microorganisms. Infected water contributes to nutritional contamination of animals, the development of various pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, the death of livestock, and a decrease in production indicators and enterprise profits. Currently, various methods of water purification have been proposed, but the search for the most effective methods and means of water disinfection continues. The purpose of the work is to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug “Di-O-Clean” as a source of chlorine dioxide for the disinfection of drinking water in industrial poultry farming.Methods. The methodology included bacteriological studies of 80 drinking water samples taken from various poultry farm facilities in different seasons of the year, a sanitary assessment of the poultry watering system after the use of “Di-O-Clean”.Results. As a result of the water tests, coliform bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found. There was an increase in the number of microorganisms in the water of the storage tank and poultry watering system by 2.4 times compared to the amount of the initial microflora in the well water. The sanitary quality of water depends on the season of the year; the most unfavorable values of water assessment indicators were recorded in the spring. Production tests have shown that water disinfection with “Di-O-Clean” is effective, affordable, safe and economically feasible. Chlorine dioxide disinfection technology makes it possible to minimize or eliminate the transmission of infections through drinking water, raise healthy livestock and maintain the biological safety of the enterprise as a whole.

Demonstration of charge-hold-vent (CHV) and no-vent-fill (NVF) in a simulated propellent storage tank during tank-to-tank cryogen transfer in microgravity

The space exploration from a low earth orbit to a high earth orbit, then to Moon, Mars, and possibly asteroids and moons of other planets is one of the biggest challenges for scientists and engineers for the new millennium. The enabling of in-space cryogenic rocket engines and the Lower-Earth-Orbit (LEO) cryogenic fuel depots for these future manned and robotic space exploration missions begins with the technology development of advanced cryogenic thermal-fluid management systems for the propellant transfer line and storage tank system. One of the key thermal-fluid management operations is the chilldown and filling of the propellant storage tank in space. As a result, highly energy efficient, breakthrough concepts for quenching heat transfer to conserve and minimize the cryogen consumption during chilldown have become the focus of engineering research and development, especially for the deep-space mission to Mars. In this paper, we introduce such thermal transport concepts and demonstrate their feasibilities in space for cryogenic propellant storage tank chilldown and filling in a simulated space microgravity condition on board an aircraft flying a parabolic trajectory. In order to maximize the storage tank chilldown thermal efficiency for the least amount of required cryogen consumption, the breakthrough quenching heat transfer concepts developed include the combination of charge-hold-vent (CHV) and no-vent-hold (NVF). The completed flight experiments successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the concepts and discovered that spray cooling combined with hold and vent is more efficient than the pure spray cooling for storage tank chilldown in microgravity. In microgravity, the data shows that the CHV thermal efficiency can reach 39.5%. The CHV efficiency in microgravity is 6.9% lower than that in terrestrial gravity. We also found that pulsing the spray can increase CHV efficiency by 6.1% in microgravity.

Optimal operation of reverse osmosis desalination process with deep reinforcement learning methods

The reverse osmosis (RO) process is a well-established desalination technology, wherein energy-efficient techniques and advanced process control methods significantly reduce production costs. This study proposes an optimal real-time management method to minimize the total daily operation cost of an RO desalination plant, integrating a storage tank system to meet varying daily freshwater demand. Utilizing the dynamic model of the RO process, a cascade structure with two reinforcement learning (RL) agents, namely the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) and deep Q-Network (DQN), is developed to optimize the operation of the RO plant. The DDPG agent, manipulating the high-pressure pump, controls the permeate flow rate to track a reference setpoint value. Simultaneously, the DQN agent selects the optimal setpoint value and communicates it to the DDPG controller to minimize the plant’s operation cost. Monitoring storage tanks, permeate flow rates, and water demand enables the DQN agent to determine the required amount of permeate water, optimizing water quality and energy consumption. Additionally, the DQN agent monitors the storage tank’s water level to prevent overflow or underflow of permeate water. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of the designed RL agents.

Generalized thermodynamic modeling of hydrogen storage tanks for truck application

Hydrogen-driven heavy-duty trucks are a promising technology for reducing CO2 emissions in the transportation sector. Thus, storing hydrogen efficiently onboard is vital. The three available or currently developed physical hydrogen storage technologies (compressed gaseous, subcooled liquid, and cryo-compressed hydrogen) are promising solutions. For a profound thermodynamic comparison of these storage systems, a universally applicable model is required. Thus, this article introduces a generalized thermodynamic model and conducts thermodynamic comparisons in terms of typical drive cycle scenarios. Therefore, a model introduced by Hamacher et al. [1] for cryo-compressed hydrogen tanks is generalized by means of an explicit model formulation using the property cv2P from REFPROP [2], which is understood as a generic specific isochoric two-phase heat capacity. Due to an implemented decision logic, minor changes to the equation system are automatically made whenever the operation mode or phase of the tank changes. The resulting model can simulate all three storage tank systems in all operating scenarios and conditions in the single- and two-phase region. Additionally, the explicit model formulation provides deeper insights into the thermodynamic processes in the tank. The model is applied to the three physical hydrogen storage technologies to compare drive cycles, heat requirement, dormancy behavior, and optimal usable density. The highest driving ranges were achieved with cryo-compressed hydrogen, however, it also comes with higher heating requirements compared to subcooled liquid hydrogen.

Design and execution of a shallow well with storage tank and pumping system for residential irrigation use

Design and execution of a shallow well with storage tank and pumping system for residential irrigation use

Preliminary design of the suppressive containment system based on HPR1000

The current HPR1000 has a high construction cost and weak economic competitiveness due to its complex system and large containment. This study proposes a conceptual design of an advanced containment system based on HPR1000, which aims at reducing the construction cost of nuclear power plants without reducing their safety. In the design, the In-containment Refueling Water Storage Tank (IRWST) and spray system were discarded, and the space of the double containment vessel was used to create an annular cavity pool (ACP). The transient pressurization in the containment caused in the early stages of the accident can be quickly suppressed by ACP instead of the traditional large-volume suppression concept. And due to the significant condensation of steam within the ACP water, the transportation of air into the ACP results in a reduction in the air mass fraction in the vicinity of the passive containment heat removal system (PCHR) located within the containment structure. This phenomenon subsequently leads to an enhancement in heat transfer performance. In addition, ACP also serves as the water source for the safety injection system, the reactor cavity water injection system, and the core replacement system. Compared with HPR1000, the system of the preliminary design has been greatly simplified, and the size of the containment vessel has been reduced by nearly 47%. The simulation of the large-break loss-of-coolant accident (LBLOCA) scenario has been conducted to examine the response of the containment system, specifically focusing on the performance of the safety injection system and suppression system. The results show that the integrity of the containment and core was ensured throughout the accident, and there was a safety margin.

Thermal Performance Analysis of a Mounded Liquid Ethylene Storage Tank

AbstractA model including the tank body and the external environment is developed to investigate the temperature field of a mounded liquid ethylene storage tank system during long‐term placement. Since the external environment always changes, it is introduced by writing user‐defined functions (UDFs). The effects of external environment and structural parameters on the temperature field are analyzed to provide reference for the design of the heat tracing devices of the storage tank system. The results indicate that the increase of tank quantities substantially reduces the outer‐surface temperature of the cold insulation structure. The increase in tank spacing and thickness of the cold insulation structure weakens the interaction of adjacent tanks and raises the outer‐surface temperature of the cold insulation structure.

Evaluation of operational strategy of cooling and thermal energy storage tanks in optimal design of multi generation system

In this study, optimal design of solar combined cooling, heating, power, freshwater (FW) and hydrogen (CCHPWH) generation system using parabolic trough collectors (PTC), proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer and multi-effect evaporation with thermal vapor compression (MEE-TVC) is investigated. The CCHPWH + PTC system according to thermal energy storage (TES) tank with constant partial load (CPL) for chillers (case 1) and CCHPWH + TES + PTC including cooling energy storage (CES) tank system with variable partial load (VPL) strategy for chillers (case 2) in hot climate are compared to each other, and with CCHPWH system with CPL strategy (case 3) and with VPL strategy (case 4), respectively. The optimal results illustrated 0.64% reduction in the TAC of CCHPWH + TES + PTC + CES system with VPL strategy as compared to CCHPWH + TES + PTC system with CPL strategy. Notably, it was observed 4.55% and 4.67% decrement in the TAC of CCHPWH + TES + PTC + CES system with VPL strategy and CCHPWH + TES + PTC system with CPL strategy as compared to CCHPWH system with VPL and CPL strategy, respectively. As well as, energy and exergy efficiency of the CCHPWH + TES + PTC + CES system with VPL strategy in the optimal mood increased 11.85% and 19.05% in comparison with CCHPWH + TES + PTC with CPL strategy. Eventually, proposed cases were optimized and discussed from energy, exergy, economic, environmental.

Fusing logic rule-based hybrid variable graph neural network approaches to fault diagnosis of industrial processes

It is practical that industrial processes are regarded as hybrid systems involving both continuous and discrete variables. Particularly, process discrete variables are usually rather crucial to process normal operations. However, existing data-driven fault diagnosis methods have been rarely applied for industrial processes concerning hybrid system characteristics. In response to this issue, this paper proposes a novel industrial process fault diagnosis approach based on fusing logic rule-based hybrid variable graph neural networks (GNNs) able to learn hybrid variable spatial structures. Therein, continuous variables samples are regarded as learning objects, while logic rule information is utilized to guide the learning process. Specifically, a mixed 0–1 integer linear programming algorithm is used to extract logic rules with fault labels from discrete variable data. Subsequently, a rule classification method is used to classify the logic rules with fault labels into independent and interdependent rule classes which are filed in a rule class library using as the basis for topological connections among data samples. In addition, an edge pruning-based graph optimization is employed to reduce redundant connections of the nodes. It is found that the established hybrid variable GNNs is able to learn the spatial topological structure of hybrid industrial process variables, providing rich heuristic knowledge for process fault classifications so as to effectively improve the fault diagnose performance. Simulation experiments are carried out in an industrial coal gasification process platform and a storage tank systems simulation platform, achieving satisfactory results.

Insulated concrete form foundation wall as solar thermal energy storage for Cold-Climate building heating system

Employing green energies for building energy sector decarbonization has captured the world’s attention in the current century. However, the imbalance between energy demand and availability necessitates designing reliable and cost-effective energy storage systems. The present study aims to propose an innovative building-integrated solar thermal storage method using insulated concrete form (ICF) foundation walls for residential buildings in cold climates such as that of Canada. Surplus solar thermal energy is stored inside the ICF wall, which has a high thermal capacity and mass and is integrated into the building envelope. The ICF wall and solar thermal collectors are coupled with a water-to-water heat pump to meet building space heating load and domestic hot water demand. Different configurations integrating the ICF wall are modeled and simulated in TRNSYS software to perform a yearly transient analysis. It is shown that a system with ICF walls has an 11% higher solar fraction (SF) than a similar system with a large water thermal storage tank. By replacing the solar thermal collector with a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal collector, the overall system solar fraction can increase to 20% above that of a similar system with a large water thermal storage tank system. An ICF-based system with a 16 m2 solar collector can completely cover nine months of space heating and domestic hot water load for a single-family house in London, Ontario. A detailed sensitivity analysis shows that the proposed ICF-based systems achieve an optimum solar fraction at high tilt angles (65-70°), unlike a similar design with an extensive water thermal storage tank system. Because of their ability to achieve a high SF at high tilt angles, ICF systems are suitable for vertically mounted solar systems typically required by high-rise buildings due to limited roof area. As part of the building envelope, ICF foundation walls have no additional cost and can be considered a feasible strategy for reducing the residential sector’s carbon footprint..

Seismic fragility assessment of storage tanks considering different sources of uncertainty

Liquid storage tanks are critical facilities in petroleum depots that must remain intact and functional following an earthquake. The seismic fragility function is a useful tool for quantifying structural vulnerability. This study accordingly explored the effects of different uncertainties on the seismic fragility of a case study floating-roof storage tank by applying an appropriate approach to seismic fragility analysis. First, an orthogonal sensitivity analysis was performed using a finite element model to determine the random model variables most affecting the seismic responses of the storage tank. Considering the different sources of uncertainty, seismic fragility was subsequently evaluated by combining a cloud analysis with model sampling. Then, the seismic fragility curves of the storage tank system were developed by studying the correlations among multiple failure modes. The results indicate that the computational requirements of the present method were significantly less demanding than those of direct Monte Carlo simulation. Geometric uncertainty was found to exert the greatest impact on the seismic responses. The maximum difference among the fragility function parameters for different sources of uncertainty was 28.9%. The damage assessment of the tank system was shown to be more reasonable when considering the correlations among multiple failure modes. This analysis technique can accordingly provide practical guidance for the seismic design of vertical floating-roof storage tanks.

Hybrid Bayesian Networks for the Reliability Analysis of Systems with Continuous Variables

The standard way of dealing with continuous variablesinto reliability models is to discretize (or even binarise)them, resulting in discrete state models. The presentpaper proposes an approach where continuous systemvariables can be directly exploited by resorting to HybridBayesian Networks (HBN), where both continuousand discrete variables can be mixed in a general way.This allows one to: model the inter-dependencies betweendiscrete state components or subsystems, modelthe inter-dependencies between continuous system variables,model the influence of contextual information onsystem variables and components, model the definitionof specific system events or conditions given specificvalues of the system variables. We will show how theabove issues can be captured in a principled way bythe HBN formalism, by making the final analyses moregrounded on the actual values of every system variable.We finally present a case study where the model of agranule storage tank system of a petrochemical plant isconsidered, and we present the results of specific analysesimplemented as inference on the HBN model.

Thermodynamic parametric analysis of refueling heavy-duty hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles

Reliable design and safe operation of heavy-duty hydrogen refueling stations are essential for the successful deployment of heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Fueling heavy-duty FCEVs is different from light-duty vehicles in terms of the dispensed hydrogen quantities and fueling rates, requiring tailored fueling station design for each vehicle class. In particular, the selection and design of the onboard hydrogen storage tank system and the fueling performance requirements influence the safe design of hydrogen fueling stations. A thermodynamic modeling and analysis are performed to evaluate the impact of various fueling parameters and boundary conditions on the fueling performance of heavy-duty FCEVs. We studied the effect of dispenser pressure ramp rate and precooling temperature, initial tank temperature and pressure, ambient temperature, and onboard storage design parameters, such as onboard storage pipe diameter and length, on the fueling rate and final vehicle state-of-charge, while observing prescribed tank pressure and temperature safety limits. An important finding was the sensitivity of the temporal fueling rate profile and the final tank state of charge to the design factors impacting pressure drop between the dispenser and vehicle tank, including onboard storage pipe diameter selection, and flow coefficients of nozzle, valves, and fittings. The fueling rate profile impacts the design and cost of the hydrogen precooling unit upstream of the dispenser.

Performance Analysis of a Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic- Grid Water Pumping System

This study examines the integration of grid and solar energy resources in remote water pumping systems to improve performance and reliability. The feasibility of a hybrid solar PV-grid system is investigated to assess its technical and financial performance compared to standalone solar PV or grid systems. A unique aspect of this hybrid system is the utilization of a water storage tank instead of energy storage for solar PV conversion. The system comprises a PV array, inverter, AC motor, submersible pump, storage tank, grid supply, and control systems. The paper presents a cost-effectiveness analysis using Net Present Value (NPV), Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) to economically evaluate the power supply for pumping systems in community areas. The study focuses on two energy supply systems: solar photovoltaic systems and the grid network. A case study is conducted in the western region of Uganda, where the pumping systems are designed to provide water for residential, commercial, and small industrial usage. To evaluate the proposed solar PV system, Matlab/Simulink software is utilized for modeling, and simulations are performed to assess the system's performance and outcomes. Overall, this research aims to explore the benefits and drawbacks of integrating grid and solar resources in water pumping systems, with a particular emphasis on the economic viability and technical feasibility of a hybrid solar PV-grid system.

Numerical and Experimental Analysis of a Low-GWP Heat Pump Coupled to Electrical and Thermal Energy Storage to Increase the Share of Renewables across Europe

In order to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels in the residential sector, low-carbon-footprint technologies such as heat pumps should be used. To fully exploit solar-assisted heat pumps, an effective control strategy is required. This study employs a low-global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerant for a water-to-water reversible heat pump, which is assisted by a thermal energy storage tank, photovoltaic (PV) installation, and battery storage system using a dedicated control strategy. The heat pump’s operation is validated against the experimental data. Simulations are carried out for three different climates to analyze the performance of reversible heat pumps across Europe. The reversible heat pump fully meets the summer cooling demand in all three climates, while the heating demand is covered with the help of a backup source. An economic analysis is carried out for three different PV sizes and the results are compared with the reference energy systems. The inclusion of a battery storage system results in high payback times but increases overall flexibility and self-sufficiency.

Risk assessment of methanol storage tank fire accident using hybrid FTA-SPA.

Fire accidents in storage tanks are of great importance due to the difficulty in extinguishing and ease of spread to nearby products. This study aimed to introduce a framework based on FTA-based Set Pair Analysis (SPA) established via experts' elicitation to identify and assess the risk of storage tank fire. In the quantitative FTA of a system, sufficient data are only sometimes available to calculate the failure probability of the system appertains to study. Thus, the obtained result of the SPA added new value to the Basic Events (BEs) and estimated top event. To illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach, a fault tree of the methanol storage tank fire is performed and analyzed BEs. According to the obtained results, the fire accident was computed by 48 BEs, and the occurrence probability value of the top event was estimated 2.58E-1/year. In addition, the most crucial paths that led to the fire accident are listed in this study. The proposed approach established in the present study can assist decision-makers in determining where to take preventative or appropriate action on the storage tank system. Moreover, it can be adjusted for various systems with limited manipulation.

Design and execution of a shallow well with storage tank and pumping system for residential irrigation use

Design and execution of a shallow well with storage tank and pumping system for residential irrigation use

Modeling and analysis of hybrid solar water desalination system for different scenarios in Indonesia

Clean water demand has significantly increased due to the rise in the global population. However, most water on the Earth has high saline content that cannot be consumed directly; only about one over forty of the total water source is freshwater. Desalinated water is one of the potential solutions to meet the growing demand for freshwater, which is highly energy intensive. This paper analyses the energy, economic and environmental performance of a 5 m3/day PV (photovoltaic) powered reverse osmosis (RO) desalination system. Three scenarios of PV-RO with and without battery storage and diesel generator hybrid systems have been analyzed and investigated for the annual estimate load, net present value, and payback period of the water and electricity production costs. Also, the CO2 avoidance over the lifetime operation of all scearios is evaluated. This study shows that the PV-RO system without battery with 6.3 kW PV panels installed and with a 2-days water storage tank system is the most profitable economically f. For this scenario, the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), Levelized Cost of Water (LCOW), and Payback Period (PBP) are found to be $0.154/kWh, $0.627/m3, and five years, respectively. In addition, for this scenario, the CO2 emissions avoidance was the maximum (111,690 kg.CO2eq per year) compared to other scenarios.